Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
Q fever abortions in ruminants and associated on-farm risk factors in northern Cyprus
Hasan Cantas , Adrian Muwonge , Baris Sareyyupoglu , Hakan Yardimci and Eystein Skjerve
BMC Veterinary Research 2011, 7:13doi:10.1186/1746-6148-7-13
Published: 17 March 2011
Abstract (provisional)
Background
Q fever is a zoonotic disease with dire public health consequences. The disease is caused by an obligate intracellular Coxiella burnetii bacterium. The main transmission route of this organism from animals to humans is by aerosol inhalation, facilitated by its tenacity in surviving in a spore-like state. C. burnetii is also transmitted by the ingestion of non-pasteurised infected milk and milk products. Since the division of Cyprus in 1974, there has not been any research work on this disease in the northern region. Therefore this study was aimed at determining the occurrence of C. burnetii related abortions and associated on farm risk factors in ruminants in northern Cyprus.
Methods
This study was carried out between October 2008 and March 2009, a total of 622 third trimester cow abortion cases were reported to the government Veterinary Services. Owing to long distances between farms and insufficient financial logistics, 51 cows, 6 sheep and 2 goat farms were conveniently visited and 59 abortion cases (one case per farm) were then randomly selected for, foetal abomasal fluids and placental cotyledons sampling. In addition a questionnaire was administered to each farmer, to gather information regarding farm management practices and environment. Detection of C. burnetii DNA was done by a PCR based test, using Trans PCR and CB1-CB2 PCR assay primers.
Results
Twenty two (37%) of the 59 sampled ruminant abortion cases were positive for C. burnetii for both tests on foetal abomasal fluids. Presence of ticks on aborted animals (OR=4; P=0.05) and presence of carnivores (OR=3; P=0.01) were on farm risk factors, while good hygiene (frequency of litter cleaning 5<x<10 and x>10 times/year) was found to be a protective factor (OR=0.3; P=0.05 and OR=0.09; P=0.05) to C. burnetii abortions. The distribution of C. burnetii abortion and tick prevalence on aborted cows followed a seasonal pattern.
Conclusion
This study found a high occurrence of C. burnetii abortion in ruminants in northern Cyprus. In addition, tick presence on aborted animals and poor hygiene were identified as important risk factors for on farm occurrence.
full article-pdf
Hasan Cantas , Adrian Muwonge , Baris Sareyyupoglu , Hakan Yardimci and Eystein Skjerve
BMC Veterinary Research 2011, 7:13doi:10.1186/1746-6148-7-13
Published: 17 March 2011
Abstract (provisional)
Background
Q fever is a zoonotic disease with dire public health consequences. The disease is caused by an obligate intracellular Coxiella burnetii bacterium. The main transmission route of this organism from animals to humans is by aerosol inhalation, facilitated by its tenacity in surviving in a spore-like state. C. burnetii is also transmitted by the ingestion of non-pasteurised infected milk and milk products. Since the division of Cyprus in 1974, there has not been any research work on this disease in the northern region. Therefore this study was aimed at determining the occurrence of C. burnetii related abortions and associated on farm risk factors in ruminants in northern Cyprus.
Methods
This study was carried out between October 2008 and March 2009, a total of 622 third trimester cow abortion cases were reported to the government Veterinary Services. Owing to long distances between farms and insufficient financial logistics, 51 cows, 6 sheep and 2 goat farms were conveniently visited and 59 abortion cases (one case per farm) were then randomly selected for, foetal abomasal fluids and placental cotyledons sampling. In addition a questionnaire was administered to each farmer, to gather information regarding farm management practices and environment. Detection of C. burnetii DNA was done by a PCR based test, using Trans PCR and CB1-CB2 PCR assay primers.
Results
Twenty two (37%) of the 59 sampled ruminant abortion cases were positive for C. burnetii for both tests on foetal abomasal fluids. Presence of ticks on aborted animals (OR=4; P=0.05) and presence of carnivores (OR=3; P=0.01) were on farm risk factors, while good hygiene (frequency of litter cleaning 5<x<10 and x>10 times/year) was found to be a protective factor (OR=0.3; P=0.05 and OR=0.09; P=0.05) to C. burnetii abortions. The distribution of C. burnetii abortion and tick prevalence on aborted cows followed a seasonal pattern.
Conclusion
This study found a high occurrence of C. burnetii abortion in ruminants in northern Cyprus. In addition, tick presence on aborted animals and poor hygiene were identified as important risk factors for on farm occurrence.
full article-pdf